Deacons
Janet Anderson – Chair of Deacons
Janet serves as the chair of the deacon’s board. She was born and raised in Vancouver. She attended DHBC as a teenager and was introduced to a personal faith in Jesus Christ. Gratefully, she is still at DHBC now serving as Chair of the Deacon’s Board. She was educated and worked as a nurse and was also an entrepreneur owning 5 stores. Janet obtained an Masters of Christian Studies at Regent College in 1999 and is now serving there as Adjunct Faculty. She was the Director of the Chaplaincy Program at ACTS seminary for 5 years. Now she is studying in a Dmin program and is presently the chair of Camp Qwanoes. Her privilege in life is having Dr. Frank Anderson as her husband. Her life verses are Ephesians 3:14-21.
Peter Anderson – Deacon of Prayer
Peter serves as the deacon of the prayer ministry, hoping to share with others, and learn himself, how to enjoy the wonderful privilege’s that God gives to those who trust in him. For example: “You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it” – John 14:14. He moved to Vancouver in 2006 as a master’s student in Mechanical Engineering at UBC, but enjoyed his time here so much that he continued on as a Ph.D after the initial 2 years were up. When not plugging away at UBC, Peter enjoys spending time with his wonderful friends, playing guitar, cooking, soccer, and heading up to the mountains for skiing and hiking adventures. Most of all, he wants his life to be about God; living to show His goodness to the world.
Jill Bernakevitch – Deacon of Welcome Ministry
Jill serves as the deacon of the welcome ministry. She has been attending DHBC since 2002. She is responsible for the newcomers and welcome ministry at our church, helping people to get plugged in and connected, and to have their questions answered. Jill has a passion for people and enjoys getting to know them, and serving their needs. She is a teacher at Richmond Christian School and is currently on maternity leave to raise her first child with her husband, Lindsay.
Laura Bull – Deacon of Missions
Laura serves as the deacon of missions. She is currently working on her Master’s degree in Counselling Psychology at UBC. She plans to work as a counsellor locally and hopes to offer trauma services and training overseas. Laura’s greatest passion however is evangelism, a passion she plans to live out in both the counselling field and through her love for drama ministry. She has had the opportunity to use and train teams in drama ministry all over the world. Laura is married to Jason, a Regent graduate who considers Vancouver, Amsterdam and Colorado Springs all to be hometowns. Jason spent many years of his life working with YWAM and shares a similar passion with Laura for missions and parachurch ministry.
Laura loves all sorts of outdoor activities: running, biking, rock climbing, roller blading, kayaking and the list goes on. She and Jason have a knack for planning incredible dates on a tight budget and so love taking advantage of all the cultural activities Vancouver has to offer.
Susie Gibbon – Deacon of Dunbar Serving Ministry
Susie serves as the deacon of the serving ministry. Originally from Ontario, Susie has made the west her home for over 17 years. Susie has a B. Comm. from Queen’s University and worked in various capacities at the Olympic Oval in Calgary before starting a family. She has done contract work for a few non-profit organizations, however, has primarily focused on raising her daughters full-time. Susie has been married to her husband, Dave, for over 14 years and has three precious daughters, Maia, Sofia & Greta that she is crazy about. She loves to dabble in photography and scrap booking, thoroughly enjoys cooking, baking (esp. creating unique cakes!) and entertaining, loves the challenge of planning awesome birthday parties for her kids, is a runner at heart and looks forward to exploring more of beautiful BC with her family.
DSM tremendously blessed Susie and her family on many occasions. She is honoured to continue the great work that has already begun in this ministry and hopes she will be equipped to bless others as she has been blessed.
Don MacDonald – Deacon of Finance
Don serves as the deacon of finance. He has been attending Dunbar since the late 1980’s but did not come to a personal faith in Jesus until 1997, after attending Christianity courses held by Dunbar. Don is a chartered accountant and graduate engineer and has served on the Board of Deacons as Treasurer for several years. He is chief financial officer of a Vancouver based mining company but his passions are outreach to poorer communities around the world (particularly Africa), coffee and a very eclectic taste in music. His delights are the Lord, his wife and his two daughters.
Wesley Parker – Deacon of Music and Media
Wesley serves as is a graduate of Prairie Bible College, receiving a bachelor of education with a music major (BRe/MU) in 1999. He is passionate about Jesus and about music so the position of deacon of music and media seemed like a natural fit for him.
Wesley is married to Sarah with two young daughters (Isabella and Analeigh) whom he is also passionate about. When not serving at DHBC, Wesley is a pursuing a career as a fire fighter. He enjoys exercise, reading, spending time with his family, as well as listening to and writing music.
Bryan Sawatzky – Deacon of Hospitality
Cheryl Johnson – Deacon of Children & Youth
Cheryl serves as the Deacon of Children and Youth Ministries. She moved toVancouver from Montreal in 2005 and began attending and serving at Dunbar where she found a loving, supportive and welcoming community. During those early years Dunbar became a lifeline for her in many ways.
Cheryl has a diploma in Corrections as well as an Honours B.A. in Social Work, and has devoted her professional life to working with children and youth in a variety of ways in Montreal, Hamilton, Vancouver and Tokyo. Her heart’s desire is to see younger generations fall in love with God and follow Him whole-heartedly. When she’s not working at the church, Cheryl enjoys drinking coffee, painting, sharing a meal or hanging out with people, calligraphy, photography, rocking out on her guitar, gardening, and traveling across Canada or to Japan. If she could be any animal, she would be a duck because they can walk, swim and fly!